DiMENSIONS [IDOLiSH7]

31: War and Peace

-Majabah, the Nanase Mansion-

"My duty as a keeper is to watch over the two worlds, making sure they never connect."

Sougo was given a chance to talk even after what he did to both worlds. Given that Gaku could even sense that Sougo seemed to fear something, it would probably be wise to hear him out.

"Why is that necessary?" Riku was the first to ask a question.

"Child of War" Sougo turned his head to Riku. "Surely you know of Majabah's ancient history?"

"Me? But of course." Riku was surprised by how he was addressed by the angel. It wasn't the first time either.

Gaku huffed. "You are speaking to the High Lord of Majabah. You were stupid to ask that question."

Sougo ignored the butler completely and continued. "Majabah and Silica used to be one."

"What?" Nagi exclaimed loudly. The angel nodded.

"That is absurd." Gaku stood and slammed the meeting room tea table. "No records in the mansion state any of this."

"Gaku, you would do well to behave." Riku turned to glare at his butler, who now stood higher than him. The butler quickly apologised and kneeled back down to the ground once again.

"What I said is true." The angel continued. He hadn't taken even a single sip of Majabah's traditional roasted green tea. He kept staring at it though. "All the records were erased."

"Even so, there should be some people who know the true history." Nagi was not yet convinced. "Memories passed down from ancestors and such."

Sougo shook his head slowly. "When war broke out in that old world, or the ancient Majabah, as you now call it, thousands of people suffered. Every time I looked down from the Sky Realm, I saw so many humans crying and pleading for the war to be over."

Sougo's face appeared more saddened. "I felt the need to intervene, but I could not think of a good way to do so. Even if I stopped the war, it would happen again sooner or later as humans crave power."

He continued his tale. "I could not stop the war, but I could prevent one. Another part of ancient Majabah was not yet affected by it, and so I decided to create a barrier in the middle of the two worlds, where Nijiiro Canyon stands now."

"That part you sealed off is Silica?" Nagi seemed to understand a bit more now.

"Correct." Sougo nodded.

"Hmm..." Riku thought for a short moment. "What of magic power then? How could the Silicans who were once citizens of Majabah lose their ability to cast magic?"

"You are wise, child of war." Sougo smiled reservedly. "People on the Silica side were grateful they were no longer affected by such bloodshed. They made a vow to the angel, to me, to never use magic. They treated it as a curse that caused the war. Much time went by. Eventually, newer generations forgot how to wield magic. They forgot that the other side of the world existed at all because mentioning it was the biggest taboo one could ever do."

"As for the warring side, the Nanase's fire destroyed all the written records that ever existed." The angel turned to stare at Riku's face. "People thought it was your ancestors who destroyed the other half of Majabah, child of war."

"All is clear to me now." Riku's spirit seemed to have lowered considerably. "We Nanase keep the records of the world. Our ancestors would not write about something they did not do."

"I was afraid war would break out again had the barrier been lifted." Sougo confirmed his intention. "However, keeping a large barrier between the worlds up was a challenge even for me. When that Silican boy was sent to Majabah, I began to lose control of myself."